Joltin Jess Wins Again at Hialeah

Gelding records second straight stakes win at Florida track.

January 5, 2014

Odds-on wagering favorite Joltin Jess, owned by Glenn Graff, trained by Matt Frazier and ridden by Shanley Jackson, took command early and went on to register a one-length wire-to-wire victory over 22-1 outside The Star Alert in Sunday’s $31,875 Moonstone Stakes at Hialeah Park.

The 6-year-old gelding, off at odds of 3-5, covered 660 yards from the starting gate down Hialeah Park’s “world famous Widener Chute” and on to the finish line in 32.480 as he recorded his second straight victory in the new Hialeah Marathon Series. The $19,125 winner’s share of the purse upped his lifetime earnings to $195,161.

Three weeks ago, Joltin Jess, a son of Take Off Jess bred in Oklahoma by Circle S Ranch Inc., scored a dominating win in the Crystal River Stakes at 550 yards. He stopped the timer on December 15 in :26.033, setting a new Hialeah Park track record and an unofficial world record.

Frazier, who expressed confidence before the race in his runner’s ability to stretch out to 660 yards, was thrilled with the Moonstone outcome.

“He ran a big one! Shanley (Jackson) told me he took a good hold of him 100 yards into the race, rated him for another 100 yards and cut him loose,” Frazier said.

Frazier was not concerned, as he observed the race, watching Joltin Jess move from the four-path to the outside of the course.

“He’s always had a habit of drifting out,” Frazier commented. “Every once in a while he’ll run a little straighter. Shanley told me he didn’t want to fight him, so once he got clear he just let him go to the middle of the track.”

Frazier reported that it was not likely Joltin Jess would stretch out to 1,000 yards in either the Key West Stakes (January 26) or the Sailfish Stakes (February 23), the two remaining legs of the marathon series.

“We haven’t closed the door on it completely, but more than likely we’ll back off, pack him up and wait for the ($100,000 Sam Abbey Memorial) Invitational (at 440 yards) on the last weekend of the meet,” said the trainer.

After Joltin Jess and runner-up The Star Alert, the remaining order of finish in the Moonstone was: Jets Quick Fortune, Doyles Dashing Star, Lethal Volt, More Nuggets and Bok Man. Eyeontheline was a morning scratch.